More from Rivian R2, R3, and R3X launch event: the EV company’s more affordable SUVs are here
Rivian was one of the first to announce plans to adopt Tesla’s NACS charging standard. “I think we’re gonna see a big shift in the mosaic of charging solutions and the technology,” Scaringe says.
RJ is highlighting the company’s new theater in Laguna Beach, as well as details about Rivian’s mobile repair service and EV charging infrastructure. Everything but what we’re all here to see.
Scaringe is really emphasizing the company’s “people first” ethos, which contrasts with Tesla’s dystopian, end-of-the-world vibe. This includes very Apple-esque montage of people walking dogs, kayaking, etc.
“These are products that redefined what a truck was, what an SUV was,” he says of the company’s R1 line. “It enabled a level of performance capability, everyday usability that really never before been seen.”
Unlike some other EV companies that shall remain nameless. Right now, Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe is taking the stage.
(And about a half dozen other Mark Wahlberg movies.) I didn’t identify him myself. I’m sitting with a woman I know who’s a reporter who used to do Hollywood coverage.
There was a line almost around the back for both media and “guests” when I arrived at 9:15AM.
I’ll be live-blogging the event when it starts at approximately 10AM PT/1PM ET. And we’ve got the intrepid Abigail Bassett on the ground in Laguna Beach keeping an eye on everything IRL. So stay tuned for all the EV goodies to come.
The company’s promise — and its future — rests with its next product, the more affordable R2 vehicle.
A number of photos appearing to show Rivian’s more affordable R2 vehicle at a photoshoot in LA have cropped up on the internet. They’re a little blurry, but they seem like they could be legit. Compared to an R1S, the new R2 vehicle is smaller and appears to have a different charging port and new wheels. Whether these images are real or not, we’ll get a much closer look at the official reveal March 7th.
You’d be mistaken if you thought Rivian would ditch the signature lights for its next-generation electric trucks and SUVs! Ovals for life, baby!
The R2 is getting a proper reveal on March 7th, which will be livestreamed on X.
We already knew the date thanks to the Laguna Beach city council. What we don’t know is whether we’re going to see a whole vehicle or just the chassis. I expect there to be at least a prototype, but what do I know? Rivian has said that R2 will serve as the platform for its next vehicle, a more affordable compact SUV expected to go into production in 2026.
